Reiskirchen B49 bypass construction begins amid protests

Construction has officially begun on the B49 bypass near Reiskirchen in central Hesse, a project estimated to cost approximately 500 million euros. The groundbreaking ceremony was marked by significant protests from local residents and traffic reform activists who surrounded the site.

Opponents of the project argue that the bypass will destroy valuable natural habitats, specifically citing concerns regarding lizard protection areas. They also allege that Hessen Mobil and the municipality of Reiskirchen used inaccurate traffic data to secure approval through the administrative court. Some residents claim the project will ruin the quality of life through noise and concrete rather than providing the promised traffic relief.

Kaweh Mansoori, Hesse's Minister for Economic Affairs and Transport, defended the project, stating that administrative decisions are based on weighed arguments and that the legal process has already been exhausted through court rulings. He emphasized that once a final legal decision is reached, it must be implemented. To protect local wildlife, a specialized security fence was installed at a cost of 100,000 euros to prevent lizards from entering the construction zone.